LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 20635, 7 November 1930, Page 14

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Following a decision by Cabinet tenders are to bo called to-day (says a Press Association message from Wellington) by the Government for the carriage of mail by air between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. It is hoped that the air mail services will be in operation before next Easter. Tenders close on December 6.

A return published in the ‘Gazette’ showing the estimated population of New Zealand states that the total, including dependencies and the mandated territory, is 1,553,399 (males 794,115). The estimated population of Western Samoa is 44,960, Cook Islands 14,812, Tokelau Islands 999. The estimated population of New Zealand, excluding Maoris, is 1,427,035, and the Maori population is 67,593.

On April 5 a bus collided with a. train at M‘Lcod’s Flat, near Hikurangi (Auckland), and six young people were killed and one seriously injured. The driver of the bus, Noel Herbert Wilkinson, aged nineteen, has been tried three times on a charge of negligent driving causing death, and unless the SolicitorGeneral intervenes lie will he tried a Fourth time. When the third jury disagreed Wilkinson’s counsel protested stronglv against further proceedings, which counspl for the Crown said he was bound to apply for. Air Justice Hcrdnian said that the disaster of which, the prisoner was an. agent was one of magnitude, and ho would fix a new trial for next Thursday and leave it to the .Solicitor-General, to decide whether the trial. should proceed. 'Damages amounting to £1,749, were claimed by Henry Janies Cornwall, labourer, of Ashburton, who proceeded against Frank Fussell, taxicab proprietor. of Ashburton, in the Supreme Court, Christchurch, in a ease arising out of a collision on the Alford Forestroad on January 7. ‘Plaintiff claimed that the accident was due to Fussell’s negligence, in that he was driving at an excessive speed, was on the wrong side of the road, did not have his car under proper control, and did not keep a proper lookout. As a result of the collision plaintiff suffered severe internal injuries, injuries to Ins head, and a fractured leg. The jury found that the defendant Fussell had not been guilty of negligence, and-judgment was therefore given for defendant.

At a sitting of the Supremo Court, Wellington, before Mr Justice Ostler, Thomas William Macnuley, for indecent assault on female children, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour. James William Russell Hunter and Margaret Maisie Collins were found guilty of breaking and entering aind theft. Collins was prepared to enter a home, and was convicted and ordered to come np for sentence within two years if called upon. Hunter was ordered to be detained for two years for reformative purposes. Vincent Cranfield Butcher, for the theft of Government money, was sentenced to two months’ hard labour. Butcher’s crime was considered to arise from drink, and His Honour thought that in Butcher’s own interests lie should undergo a short term to get the drink out of his system.

After nearly half a century’s active service the Union Company’s old steamer Corinna is to be towed into Cook Strait, probably on Saturday, if the ' weather is suitable, and scuttled. The Corinna is at present on the patent slip, whore she is being stripped of everything of value prior to her last short voyage. Built in 1882 by Messrs D. and W. Henderson, Glasgow, for the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company, the Corinna is a single screw iron steamer of 1,319 tons gross and 791 tons net. In 1891 the Union Steam Ship Company bought out the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company, and took Over the company’s ships In 1894 the Corinna came to New Zealand. and entered the Dunedin-LyttoL ton-Wellington passenger service. In 1903 her passenger accommodation was removed, and she was fitted with refrigerated space, and entered the Dun-edin-Lyttelton-Weliington-Nelson • New Plymouth service. ' In 1905 Onehunga was added to the ports visited. She was finally withdrawn and laid up at Well in gmi last New Year’s Eve.

“In all my experience 1 have never known so large a sum to be claimed for an injury. The amount scenis to me to be altogether unreasonable,” Mr Justice Ostler remarked to the jury in the Supreme Court to-day just before it retired to consider a claim for £274 Ss 6d special damages and £2,500 general damages made by Ernest Drew, packer, of Wellington, against Godfrey Power Clapcott, insurance inspector, of Masterton. The case arose out of collision on Old Porirua road, near Kaiwarra, on Christmas Eye last. The jury returned a unanimous verdict, awarding plaintiff £263 18s 6d special damages and £l5O general damages. The plaintiff alleged that while he was riding a motor cycle on the Porirna road defendant, by driving his car negligently and carelessly, collided with him, severely, injuring him and damaging the motor cycle. The defendant denied that he had been negligent in any way, and lie urged that the sole cause of the accident ,was negligence on the part of plaintiff and excessive speed. His Honour reserved his decision on the motion for a new trial and on the question of the non-suit.